So, you wanna be a prophet?
Isaiah 61: 1-3, Micah 2: 1-3, Book of Mark
Isaiah 61: 1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair.
Micah 2:1-3 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
Prophet requirements include a firm commitment to God; a willingness to wrestle; a sensitivity to evil; a sense to feel the thud of injustice; a propensity to identify with human suffering; ability to rock the boat; not anxious of conflict; be able to survive without living as a hypocrite; having society describe you crazy, dangerous, subversive; being able to criticize societal values: wealth, power, and prestige; you even have to comfort those who suffer.
And it’s risky. Poverty, Embarrassment, Ridicule, Persecution, Assassination, even Execution; prophets are not fortunetellers, but people called to bear out a duty. Responsible for proclaiming God with determination, power and passion, your even positioned as Christ’s representation for an entire community.
Conversation Creators
1) When the true spirit of justice is lost, how can we challenge society’s practice of justice?
2) How do we ‘rock the boat’ when we see evil, hypocrisy, suffering?
3) ‘Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the Children of God': it is pretty hard to be a peace maker when you are stirring up trouble
4) In our modern society, where it seems that purely materialistic philosophy of life and the universe prevails, it can be difficult to get people to listen: So, why bother being a prophet?
5) Isn’t it much more comfortable staying at home in peace or living a ‘good life’?
6) Could you be a prophet if God called you resolutely to speak for Him?
Isaiah 61: 1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair.
Micah 2:1-3 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
Prophet requirements include a firm commitment to God; a willingness to wrestle; a sensitivity to evil; a sense to feel the thud of injustice; a propensity to identify with human suffering; ability to rock the boat; not anxious of conflict; be able to survive without living as a hypocrite; having society describe you crazy, dangerous, subversive; being able to criticize societal values: wealth, power, and prestige; you even have to comfort those who suffer.
And it’s risky. Poverty, Embarrassment, Ridicule, Persecution, Assassination, even Execution; prophets are not fortunetellers, but people called to bear out a duty. Responsible for proclaiming God with determination, power and passion, your even positioned as Christ’s representation for an entire community.
Conversation Creators
1) When the true spirit of justice is lost, how can we challenge society’s practice of justice?
2) How do we ‘rock the boat’ when we see evil, hypocrisy, suffering?
3) ‘Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the Children of God': it is pretty hard to be a peace maker when you are stirring up trouble
4) In our modern society, where it seems that purely materialistic philosophy of life and the universe prevails, it can be difficult to get people to listen: So, why bother being a prophet?
5) Isn’t it much more comfortable staying at home in peace or living a ‘good life’?
6) Could you be a prophet if God called you resolutely to speak for Him?
posted by qtip at 8:40 a.m.
2 Comments:
prophesy means to 'declare divine truth from God.'
The great national prophets of Israel and Judah, like Hosea and Isaiah have now gone; their mission concluded with the arrival of the New Covenant (Jesus) (Hebrews 1:1-2).
The New Testament indicates the presence of Congregational Prophets. These prophets appear to have been granted a gift of predictive prophecy in order to protect Christian leaders and congregations.
But within the New Testament there are surely strong indications that the words 'prophet' and 'prophecy' are not always used in exactly the same way.
today's new breed of (very often self-proclaimed) 'prophets' have been making the most amazing national predictions concerning countries like America and Israel even though Hebrews 1:1-2 appears to tell us that those kind of prophets have now simply gone!
The New Testament does warn of false prophets who have always been around. Acts 13:6-10 and Revelation 2:20.
Watch out for false prophets. They shall come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them...
(Matthew 7:15-16)
No one can claim to be a prophet today. God has said all he had to through his OT prophets and through Completed it through JEsus Christ his son. The Bible contains all the Lord has to say to the nations. (Rev:22:18-19.) and we are warned not to add or take anything from it.
Are there true prophets today? If the purpose of a prophet was to reveal truth from God, why would we need prophets if we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible? If prophets were the “foundation” of the early church, are we still building the “foundation” today? No, I do not think so. Do I believe God can give someone a message to deliver to someone else? Absolutely! Do I believe God can reveal truth to someone in a supernatural way and enable that person to deliver that message to others? Absolutely! Do I believe this is the Biblical gift of prophecy? No.
Whatever the case, whenever a person claims to be speaking for God, the key is to compare what is said with what the Bible says. If God were to speak through a person today, it would be in 100% complete agreement with what God has already said in the Bible. God does not contradict Himself.
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